Researched agency ranking
Best SEO Agencies for AI Companies (2026)
12 SEO agencies compared for AI companies on pricing, proof and AI search capability, picked from the 27 SEO agencies we track for this niche.
- Agencies reviewed
- 27
- Median minimum
- $5,000/mo
- Typical hourly rate
- $100–$149
- Offer AI search
- 96%
On this page
- Quick answer
- Key takeaways
- Comparison table
- The 12 best SEO agencies for AI companies
- Best SEO agency for AI companies by need
- How much SEO agencies for AI companies cost
- How we ranked them
- How to choose an SEO agency for AI companies
- Agency vs freelancer vs in-house
- What an SEO agency for AI companies does
- FAQ
- More SEO agencies for AI companies
- Related rankings
Which SEO agency for AI companies is best?
The best SEO agencies for AI companies in 2026 are SimpleTiger for software and AI brands, Derivatex for B2B SaaS at $5M to $50M ARR, Earned Media for link earning and LLM tracking, Semetrical for technical depth and Adlift for AI answer visibility. UltraGrowthMedia is the pick for teams that want SEO, GEO and outbound run by one team. Across the 27 agencies we track, the median minimum is $5,000 a month.
Key takeaways
- The median minimum for an SEO agency serving AI companies is $5,000 a month, and 52% of the 27 agencies we track sit between $1,000 and $5,000.
- 96% of the agencies in this pool offer AI search work, but quality varies. AI companies should test it, because your buyers already ask chat tools which products to try.
- Every agency in this pool lists AI companies among its clients, but few name AI products, so ask for AI product or developer-tool case studies.
- AI products change fast, so look for agencies that can ship documentation, comparison and use-case pages quickly, and that track brand mentions inside ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity.
- Four picks are UK-based, three are in India, one is in Australia and three are in the US, so check time-zone overlap and whether quotes arrive in dollars, pounds or rupees.
Best SEO agencies for AI companies compared
| # | Agency | Best for | Min. budget | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SimpleTiger | Overall for AI and software brands | $6,000 | ★4.9 |
| 2 | DerivateX | Series A to C SaaS and AI tools | $5,000 | ★5.0 (7) |
| 3 | UltraGrowthMedia | Startups pairing SEO, GEO and outbound | $3,000 | ★4.9 |
| 4 | Earned Media | Link earning and LLM tracking | $1,000 | ★4.9 (4) |
| 5 | Semetrical | Technical SEO and data depth | $5,000 | — |
| 6 | Obility | B2B security and IT AI vendors | $5,000 | ★4.8 (29) |
| 7 | LeadWalnut | Security-conscious B2B AI teams | $5,000 | ★4.9 (9) |
| 8 | AdLift | AI answer visibility tooling | $10,000 | — |
| 9 | Tug | Multi-market AI and media programmes | Not published | — |
| 10 | Mint Position | Fintech-leaning AI and SaaS content | $1,000+ | ★5.0 (15) |
| 11 | Clear Click | Senior-only team for early-stage startups | $1,000 | ★4.8 (6) |
| 12 | Digital Next | Broad SEO and PPC team for tech brands | Not published | ★4.8 (76) |
Ratings are public Clutch, G2 or Google averages with review counts in brackets. Minimums are monthly unless stated.
The 12 best SEO agencies for AI companies in 2026
Each agency below leads a specific category. Start with the one that matches your situation rather than reading top to bottom.
#1Best overall for AI and software brands
SimpleTiger
SaaS-focused SEO and PPC agency with 15 years of specialization
SimpleTiger is a Sarasota agency, founded in 2010, that has served only SaaS brands for over 15 years and is the one pick here that lists AI companies among its sectors. It runs SEO, answer engine optimisation, PPC, content and link building, with clients including Segment, Gainsight, Bitly, Invoca and Firecrawl. Published retainers run $6,000 to $20,000 a month, which suits funded AI startups.
Notable clients
- Gainsight
- Gelato
- Firecrawl
- Centerbase
- ContractWorks
- Invoca
Watch out
SaaS only, a smaller team that can limit bandwidth on complex multi-channel programmes, and less depth on lifecycle or brand work.
#2Best for Series A to C SaaS and AI tools
DerivateX
SEO and generative-engine optimization for B2B SaaS at $5M–$50M ARR
Derivatex is a Bengaluru agency, formed in 2024, focused on SEO and generative engine optimisation for B2B SaaS companies at $5M to $50M ARR. It offers LLM visibility tracking, entity optimisation and citation building, with three published retainer tiers from $5,000 to $12,000 a month and a 90-day pilot with no lock-in. It holds a 5.0 rating across seven Clutch reviews and works with US companies remotely.
Notable clients
- Gumlet
- REsimpli
- Verito
- Kroto
- Docustream
- PlanningPoker.live
Watch out
Formed in 2024, so few long-term case studies, and a separate citation budget adds to the retainer.
#3Best for startups pairing SEO, GEO and outbound
UltraGrowthMedia
Full-stack marketing for ambitious growth-stage brands.
UltraGrowthMedia builds SEO for how search works in 2026: SEO, content and programmatic SEO, plus GEO work on entities, schema and citation building so the same pages get cited in ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews. Cold email and LinkedIn outbound run in the same team, which gives startups pipeline while rankings build. Founded in 2022 by Tushar Dey, the 27-person remote team works in weekly sprints, clients talk directly to the practitioners doing the work, and progress shows up on live reporting dashboards. Retainers start at $3,500 a month.
Watch out
It is a newer team, founded in 2022, with few named case studies or third-party reviews, so ask for references and a walkthrough of a live client dashboard before signing.
Run by our team.
#4Best for link earning and LLM tracking
Earned Media
Founder-led Sydney SEO and GEO pod with link earning and its own LLM-tracking tool
Earned Media is a Sydney agency, founded in 2019, where Clutch lists all of the work as SEO, weighted towards content and link earning. Its proprietary EMintel platform probes LLMs live to report on AI visibility. Clients include Salesforce, Rippling and Fresha, and it won Clutch 2026 recognition as a top SEO company for financial services. Its minimum is $1,000. It is based in Australia and works with US clients remotely.
Notable clients
- Salesforce
- Rippling
- Macquarie Data Centres
- Charles Sturt University
- Camplify
- Fresha
Watch out
A team of 13 named specialists, four Clutch reviews with the latest from 2023, and no paid media offer.
#5Best for technical SEO and data depth
Semetrical
Data and SEO consultancy from the team behind the original Deepcrawl crawler
Semetrical is a London data and SEO consultancy, founded in 2013, by a team behind the original Deepcrawl crawler, now Lumar. Clients include Stripe and Cloudflare, and a published case study covers paid search across 19 markets for Cloudflare. It combines technical SEO, GEO, analytics and in-house tools, which suits AI companies with complex sites. Minimums start at $5,000. It works with US clients remotely.
Notable clients
- Stripe
- Cloudflare
- Ticketmaster
- Vogue
- LexisNexis
- Activision Blizzard Media
Watch out
No public Clutch reviews, so independent feedback is limited, and the founders are not named on its site.
#6Best for B2B security and IT AI vendors
Obility
B2B performance marketing agency with a Cybersecurity and IT practice
Obility is a Portland, Oregon B2B performance marketing agency of 11 to 50 people that lists AI companies among its clients and has a cybersecurity and IT practice. SEO and generative engine optimisation sit alongside paid search, LinkedIn advertising and revenue attribution, and named clients include Cloudflare, Netskope, Fortra and Dialpad. Clutch shows 4.8 across 29 reviews, with reviewers citing lower cost per lead and organic growth, and a $5,000 minimum.
Notable clients
- Cloudflare
- Fortra
- Cisco Duo
- Netskope
- SafeBreach
- At-Bay
Watch out
Cost was its lowest Clutch sub-score, pricing is not published, and one SEO client said content creation was an add-on.
#7Best for security-conscious B2B AI teams
LeadWalnut
Bengaluru SEO, GEO and CRO agency for B2B tech companies
LeadWalnut is a Bengaluru agency, founded in 2015, focused on SEO, GEO and conversion work for B2B technology companies. Clients include Fortinet, eFax and Splashtop, and it holds a 4.9 rating across nine Clutch reviews. It offers a four-week pilot so buyers can test before committing and is ISO/IEC 27001 certified, which helps with security reviews. Minimums start at $5,000. It works with US companies remotely.
Notable clients
- Fortinet
- eFax
- Consensus Cloud Solutions
- Splashtop
- 8x8
- Flipkart
Watch out
Pricing is only shared on a call, and some reviewers wanted more proactive ideas beyond scope.
#8Best for AI answer visibility tooling
AdLift
Gurugram-run search agency tracking brand visibility inside ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity
Adlift is a Gurugram search agency, founded in 2009, that tracks brand visibility inside ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity using a proprietary tool called Tesseract. It also offers technical and international SEO, link building, content and paid media, and its roster names PayPal, Shopify and Airbnb. It has teams in both India and the US for time-zone coverage. Minimum projects start at $10,000.
Notable clients
- PayPal
- Walmart
- Shopify
- Schneider Electric
- Airbnb
- Box
Watch out
No client reviews on its Clutch profile, and many client logos are not tied to dated case studies.
#9Best for multi-market AI and media programmes
Tug
Search-born independent now running global media, SEO and AI visibility
Tug is a London agency with records back to 2006 and offices in Berlin, Toronto, New York, Sydney and Singapore. It covers SEO, GEO, paid search, paid social and programmatic, with an in-house technology arm called Tug Labs and 2026 thought leadership on ChatGPT ads. That range suits AI companies expanding across several markets. It lists B2B SaaS among its sectors and works with US clients through its New York office.
Notable clients
- Mitchells & Butlers
- Lever (by Employ)
- Suzanne Grae
Watch out
No public Clutch or G2 rating, pricing is not published, and the broad media remit may dilute SEO focus.
#10Best for fintech-leaning AI and SaaS content
Mint Position
Journalist-led SEO and GEO content agency for fintech and B2B SaaS brands
Mint Position is a Babylon, New York agency of 2 to 9 people that runs journalist-led SEO and GEO content for fintech and B2B SaaS brands, with startups among its client types. Services include SEO content, GEO audits, third-party publishing, backlinks and white papers, and clients such as Sarwa, Reloadly and Berkeley Payments are named. Clutch shows 5.0 across 15 reviews and a $1,000+ minimum. The site promises biweekly strategy calls and quarterly ROI presentations.
Notable clients
- Sarwa
- Nowmoney
- Reloadly
- Lula
- Remoti
- Berkeley Payments
Watch out
A tiny team that does content and SEO only, with no paid or web build, no published prices and some case studies lacking result figures.
#11Best senior-only team for early-stage startups
Clear Click
Senior-only Edinburgh consultancy linking SEO, paid media and CRM to revenue
Clear Click is an Edinburgh consultancy, founded in 2020, that says accounts are senior-led with no junior layer. It links SEO and paid media with CRM and data work, lists B2B technology and SaaS among its sectors and reports Myagi organic sessions up 72% and qualified leads up 38%. It holds 4.8 on Clutch across six reviews and starts at $1,000. It is UK-based and works with US startups remotely.
Notable clients
- Wigwam Holidays
- Hubject
- AM Phillip Trucktech
- MCM Beauty
- Bore Place
- Myagi
Watch out
A very small team that is hiring its first specialist SEO, one 3.5 review, and no published pricing.
#12Best broad SEO and PPC team for tech brands
Digital Next
Founder-led Manchester SEO and PPC agency with a Melbourne office and AI visibility platform
Digital Next is a founder-led Manchester agency with a Melbourne office, founded around 2009, covering SEO, PPC, digital PR, development and AI SEO or GEO, and it runs its own AI visibility platform. It lists technology and software among its sectors, names NordVPN and Qantas as clients, has been a Google Premier Partner since 2023, and shows 4.8 from 76 Google reviews. Published pricing runs from £1,000 to £10,000 a month. It works with US clients remotely.
Notable clients
- Qantas
- NordVPN
- Decathlon
- Hörmann
- Essilor
- Perfume Direct
Watch out
Homepage case studies show no performance metrics, and the broad service menu means less depth than a pure SEO specialist.
Best SEO agency for AI companies by need
SaaS and AI specialistSimpleTiger
Series A to C SaaS with GEODerivateX
SEO, GEO and outbound in one teamUltraGrowthMedia
Link earning and LLM trackingEarned Media
Technical SEO and dataSemetrical
ISO-certified B2B techLeadWalnut
B2B security and IT vendorsObility
AI answer visibility toolingAdLift
Multi-market programmesTug
Fintech-leaning content and GEOMint Position
Senior-only small teamClear Click
How much does an SEO agency for AI companies cost in 2026?
SEO agency pricing for AI companies tracks the SaaS market, where retainers are higher than for local businesses. These figures come from the published minimums and hourly rates of the 27 agencies in our directory.
| Tier | Monthly minimum | Share of agencies | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Up to $1,000/mo | 35% | Seed-stage teams needing technical fixes and a content plan, often from small or offshore agencies. |
| Mid-market | $1,000 to $5,000/mo | 52% | Funded startups running content, link building and GEO work on a steady cadence. |
| Premium | Over $5,000/mo | 13% | Scale-ups and enterprise AI vendors with multi-market sites and dedicated teams. |
Source: published minimum budgets of SEO agencies for AI companies in the MakeSuccessOnline directory, October 2026.
Median minimum budget by region
The most common hourly band is $100 to $149 (39% of the 18 agencies that publish rates), followed by $150 to $199 (28%) and $25 to $49 (17%).
How we chose the best SEO agencies for AI companies
We started with the 27 SEO agencies in the MakeSuccessOnline directory that serve AI, SaaS and technology companies and scored each on six criteria. Profiles were researched from each agency's site plus independent sources such as Clutch, trade press and award listings.
- AI and software sector fitWhether the agency lists AI companies or serves SaaS and developer-tool brands, with named clients.25%
- SEO and technical depthTechnical, content and link capability, and how much of the agency's work is search.20%
- AI search readinessReal GEO and AEO capability, including tools to track brand mentions in AI answers.15%
- Proof and reviewsNamed clients, quantified case studies, and ratings and review volume on Clutch or similar sites.20%
- Pricing and contract termsPublished minimums, pilots and lock-in terms, compared with scope.10%
- Team and longevityYears in business, team size and who actually works on accounts.10%
Rankings are editorial. Agencies cannot pay to appear on this page or to change their position. Read how we review agencies →
How to choose an SEO agency for AI companies
- Name the growth goalSign-ups, demo requests, developer adoption and AI citations are different outcomes. Pick the one your next funding or revenue target depends on.
- Look for AI and SaaS proofAsk for case studies from AI products, developer tools or SaaS in a similar category, with sign-up or pipeline results.
- Test the AI search claimsAsk how the agency measures brand mentions in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity, and what actions it takes when you are missing.
- Check content speed and expertiseAI products change monthly. Ask who writes technical content, how experts are involved and how fast pages can ship.
- Consider a pilotDerivatex offers a 90-day pilot and LeadWalnut a four-week pilot. A short test reduces risk before a long retainer.
- Read the contractCheck notice periods, content and link ownership, and what happens to your site access and data if you leave.
Questions to ask
- Which AI, developer-tool or SaaS companies have you grown, and what changed in sign-ups or pipeline in six months?
- How do you track and improve our mentions in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity?
- How do you handle documentation, comparison and use-case pages for fast-changing products?
- Who writes technical content, and how do our engineers or product team get involved?
- How do you build links for a product category that many publishers cover heavily?
- How do you report on sign-ups and pipeline rather than rankings?
Red flags
- Guaranteed rankings or guaranteed citations in AI answers.
- A renamed SEO package sold as GEO with no way to measure AI mentions.
- Mass-produced AI content with no expert review, which risks Google's spam policies.
- Case studies from unrelated sectors presented as proof for AI products.
- No access to your Search Console, analytics or site.
SEO agency for AI companies vs freelancer vs in-house
| Specialist agency | Freelancer | In-house SEO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | $1,000 to $20,000/mo | Lower; usually hourly or project-based | Salary plus tools and training |
| Skills covered | Technical, content, links, GEO, reporting | Usually one or two areas | Depends on hire; often generalist |
| Speed to start | 2 to 4 weeks | Days | 1 to 3 months to hire |
| Best for | Funded startups, competitive categories | Defined projects, small budgets | Scale-ups needing daily SEO input |
| Main risk | Generic SaaS playbooks applied to AI | Capacity and continuity | Single point of failure |
What does an SEO agency for AI companies do?
An SEO agency for AI companies helps AI startups and software vendors earn organic visibility in Google and AI answer engines. Typical work includes technical SEO, documentation and comparison pages, use-case content, link building, and tracking how the brand appears in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. Because buyers research AI tools through both search and chat, strong agencies treat classic SEO and generative engine optimisation as one programme.
SEO agency for AI companies FAQ
What is the best SEO agency for AI companies in 2026?
SimpleTiger is our top pick because it works only with software brands and lists AI companies among its sectors. Derivatex suits Series A to C SaaS, Earned Media suits link earning with LLM tracking, and Semetrical suits technical depth. The best fit depends on your stage, budget and market.
How much does an SEO agency for AI companies cost?
Across the 27 agencies we track, the median minimum is $5,000 a month, 52% sit between $1,000 and $5,000, and the most common hourly band is $100 to $149. Software specialists such as SimpleTiger quote $6,000 to $20,000 a month, while Derivatex publishes $5,000 to $12,000.
How long does SEO take for an AI startup?
Expect technical and content improvements within two to three months and meaningful organic sign-ups in six to twelve months. New AI products often face crowded categories, so early wins usually come from comparison, use-case and long-tail pages. Google's guidance says SEO changes can take months to show.
How do I choose an SEO agency for my AI company?
Ask for case studies from AI or SaaS products with sign-up or pipeline results, then test how the agency tracks AI mentions and who will write technical content. Prefer agencies that offer a pilot, publish pricing and let you keep access to your site and data.
Should I hire a local or remote SEO agency for my AI company?
Remote works well because SEO is mostly online work. Choose an agency whose time zone overlaps with your team for weekly calls. Several picks are in the UK, India and Australia and work with US companies remotely, while SimpleTiger, Obility and Mint Position are US-based.
What is GEO and does my AI company need it?
GEO, or generative engine optimisation, aims to get your brand cited in answers from tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. AI companies usually need it, because their buyers research tools in chat as well as search. Treat it as an extension of strong SEO content, not a replacement.
Can I use AI-written content for my AI company's SEO?
You can use AI to help draft, but Google's spam policies warn against mass-produced content made mainly to manipulate rankings. Pages need real expertise, original detail and human review. Ask any agency how it uses AI in production and who is accountable for accuracy.
Are SEO agencies worth it for an AI startup?
They are worth it when organic search can realistically drive sign-ups and you lack in-house skills. They are less useful for pre-launch products with no budget for content, or categories with little search demand. A short pilot, as offered by Derivatex or LeadWalnut, can test fit cheaply.
More SEO agencies for AI companies
Well-reviewed SEO agencies for AI companies that did not make the top list but may suit your market.
Browse all 27 SEO agencies for AI companies →
About the reviewer
Editor & Reviewer, MakeSuccessOnline
William Harrison is an editor and reviewer at MakeSuccessOnline. Before a ranking goes live, he checks every claim on the page against each agency's own site, its published case studies and independent reviews on Clutch and G2, and cuts anything he can't verify. He also keeps rankings current, rechecking pricing, team details and client lists as agencies change.